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Ready to apply? Take note of any deadlines and documents required for this degree program.

Application Deadlines

March 1

• Summer 2027 Advanced Standing Columbia and Online

April 1

• Fall 2027 Full-time Columbia and Online
• Fall 2027 Extended-time Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, and Online
• Fall 2027 Advanced Standing Extended-time Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, and Online

Required Documents*

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended for credit. Unofficial transcripts are required to be uploaded to your application.
• Statement of Purpose.
• Full-time and Extended-time applicants must submit at least two recommendations from individuals such as professors, employers or supervisors who can provide a detailed assessment of the applicant’s specific qualifications for both graduate studies and master’s-level social work practice. 
• Advanced Standing and Advanced Standing Extended-time applicants must submit three recommendations. Of the three recommendations, one must be from the BSW program director or faculty advisor, and one must be from the undergraduate field supervisor or current social work supervisor if employed.
• Current CV or resume that demonstrates evidence of service and/or work experiences congruent with social work values, skills, and knowledge.
• Applicants submitting international academic credentials must have their credentials evaluated for equivalency to U.S. accredited coursework on a course-by-course basis by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Visit the Official Transcript page for more information.
• International applicants are required to provide English language proficiency exam scores unless they are from a country where English is an official language, or they have earned a degree in a country where English is an official language. More information and a list of exempt countries is on the International Applicants  page.
• International applicants should review the International Applicants page for information regarding additional application requirements

*See program website for GPA criteria. Applicants to the Advanced Standing and Advanced Standing Extended-time programs must have earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program within the last five years.  Applicants to the 2027 Advanced Standing and Advanced Standing Extended-time MSW programs must have earned a BSW degree no earlier than 2022.

Applications Accepted for These Semesters...

• Fall Semester
• Summer Semester

Important Notes from the Field Education Office

All online MSW students will complete in-person field practicums.

Students must live in South Carolina to be in the Advanced Standing Online and Advanced Standing Extended-time Online MSW programs.

Students must live in South Carolina, North Carolina, or Georgia to be in the Full-time Online and Extended-time Online MSW programs.

The online MSW program is not a valid selection for international students.

If you work or volunteer full time, do not apply to the Advanced Standing or Full-time MSW degree pathways. Consider the Extended-time or Advanced Standing Extended-time MSW degree pathways.  For a detailed description of all MSW degree pathways, visit the MSW Curriculum webpage.

Combination Degrees involving Social Work

Through special arrangement, the University offers combination degree programs in certain areas to permit a student to work on two degrees concurrently by combining credits, resulting in the student taking fewer courses than the total required if each degree were pursued independently.

Social Work and Law

Degrees Conferred

Master of Social Work and Juris Doctor

How to Apply

Submit a separate application to each program. Each program will make its own admission decision. Acceptance into one program does not guarantee acceptance into the other. 

Juris Doctor Application

Social Work Application
Select the program pairing from under the Combination Degrees heading. 

Health Promotion Education and Behavior and Social Work

Degrees Conferred

Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work

How to Apply

Submit a separate application to each program. Each program will make its own admission decision. Acceptance into one program does not guarantee acceptance into the other. 

General Graduate School Application
Select the program pairing from under the Combination Degrees heading. The primary application will set as Health Promotion Education and Behavior; the secondary application will set as Social Work. You must submit an application for each program.

Health Services Policy and Management and Social Work

Degrees Conferred

Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work

How to Apply

Submit a separate application to each program. Each program will make its own admission decision. Acceptance into one program does not guarantee acceptance into the other. 

General Graduate School Application
Select the program pairing from under the Combination Degrees heading. The primary application will set as Health Services Policy and Management; the secondary application will set as Social Work. You must submit an application for each program.

Public Administration and Social Work

Degrees Conferred

Master of Public Administration and Master of Social Work

How to Apply

Submit a separate application to each program. Each program will make its own admission decision. Acceptance into one program does not guarantee acceptance into the other. 

General Graduate School Application
Select the program pairing from under the Combination Degree heading. The primary application will set as Public Administration; the secondary application will set as Social Work. You must submit an application for each program.